Researchers studied how California’s school lunch nutrition program (CalFresh Healthy Living) affected what kids eat and how much they exercise after schools reopened following COVID-19 closures. They found that students who participated in the program ate more fruits and vegetables each day. However, the program worked differently depending on where students lived and how many students qualified for free or reduced-price meals. The good news: the program helped the most in schools where more students needed financial help with meals, suggesting it’s successfully reaching kids who need it most.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a school-based nutrition education program called CalFresh Healthy Living helped students eat healthier foods and exercise more after schools reopened from COVID-19 closures.
  • Who participated: About 3,200 fourth and fifth grade students from 69 California public schools. Some schools received the nutrition program (51 schools with 2,115 students) while others didn’t (18 schools with 1,102 students). Students came from different backgrounds, neighborhoods, and economic situations.
  • Key finding: Students in schools with the nutrition program ate fruits about one-fifth more often per day and vegetables about one-third more often per day compared to students without the program. The program worked especially well in schools where more students needed help paying for meals.
  • What it means for you: School nutrition programs can help kids eat more healthy foods, especially in communities where families have less money. If your child’s school has a similar program, it may encourage better eating habits. However, results vary by school location and student background, so one-size-fits-all approaches may not work equally for everyone.

The Research Details

Researchers compared two groups of schools: one group that received the CalFresh Healthy Living program and another group that didn’t. They measured what students ate and how much they exercised before and after the program started. This type of study is called a ‘quasi-experimental’ design, meaning researchers couldn’t randomly assign schools to groups (like they could in a lab experiment), but they still compared similar groups to see if the program made a difference.

Students answered questions about their eating habits and physical activity. The researchers looked at how often kids ate fruits, vegetables, and sugary drinks, and how many days per week they got at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise (like running or playing sports).

The researchers also paid special attention to whether results were different for different groups of students. They looked at differences by student gender, race, and whether students attended urban or rural schools. They also examined whether schools with more students needing financial help for meals (called FRPM-eligible students) saw different results than schools with fewer such students.

This research approach is important because it shows real-world results from actual schools, not just from controlled lab settings. By comparing schools that had the program to similar schools that didn’t, researchers could see if the program actually caused the changes in eating and exercise habits. Looking at how results differed for different groups of students helps identify whether the program works equally well for everyone or if some students benefit more than others.

Strengths: The study included a large number of students (over 3,200) from many schools, making results more reliable. Researchers compared intervention schools to comparison schools, which helps show the program’s actual effect. Limitations: Students reported their own eating and exercise habits, which may not be completely accurate. The study was done only in California, so results might differ in other states. The comparison groups may have had some differences we don’t know about that could affect results.

What the Results Show

Students in schools with the CalFresh Healthy Living program ate more fruits and vegetables. Specifically, they ate fruit about 0.19 times more per day (roughly one-fifth more often) and vegetables about 0.35 times more per day (roughly one-third more often). These increases were statistically significant, meaning they’re unlikely to have happened by chance.

However, the program’s effects weren’t the same for all students. In more urban schools, students showed bigger increases in vegetable eating. In schools where more students needed financial help with meals, students showed bigger increases in both fruit eating and physical activity (getting 60+ minutes of exercise).

The study also found that students in schools with more low-income students started out eating less healthy. These students drank sugary beverages more often (about 3.2 times per day versus 2.6 times per day) and got fewer days of vigorous exercise per week (2.8 days versus 3.2 days) compared to students in wealthier schools.

The program’s effects on physical activity were particularly interesting. While the overall program didn’t significantly increase exercise for all students, it did help students in schools with more low-income families exercise more. This suggests the program may be especially effective at reaching kids who need the most help. The study also found that boys and girls responded differently to the program in some cases, though the details weren’t fully explained in the abstract.

This research confirms what other studies have shown: school-based nutrition programs can help kids eat more fruits and vegetables. The new finding is that these programs may work even better in schools serving more low-income families, which is encouraging because it suggests they’re helping the kids who need it most. This is different from some other programs that work better in wealthier communities.

The biggest limitation is that students reported their own eating and exercise habits, which can be inaccurate. Kids might forget what they ate or overestimate how much they exercise. The study only looked at California schools, so results might be different in other states with different populations or programs. The comparison schools weren’t randomly chosen, so they might have been different from intervention schools in ways we don’t know about. The study was done after COVID-19 school closures, so results might not apply to normal school years. Finally, the study measured short-term changes, so we don’t know if these healthier habits stick around long-term.

The Bottom Line

School-based nutrition education programs like CalFresh Healthy Living appear to help elementary school students eat more fruits and vegetables (moderate confidence). The program seems especially effective in schools serving more low-income families (moderate confidence). Schools should consider implementing or continuing such programs, with special attention to making sure they reach all students equally. Parents can reinforce these lessons at home by offering more fruits and vegetables and encouraging physical activity.

This research matters most for: school administrators and teachers deciding whether to implement nutrition programs; parents of elementary school children; policymakers deciding how to fund school health initiatives; and communities working to reduce health disparities. It’s especially relevant for schools serving low-income families, where the program showed the strongest benefits. The findings may be less directly applicable to middle or high school students, since this study only looked at fourth and fifth graders.

Based on this study, students showed increased fruit and vegetable consumption relatively quickly after the program started. However, the study didn’t measure how long these changes lasted. To see lasting behavior change, schools should continue the program throughout the school year and ideally across multiple years. Parents should expect to see gradual improvements over weeks to months, not overnight changes.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily fruit and vegetable servings for your child. Set a goal of at least 2-3 servings of vegetables and 1-2 servings of fruit per day, then log what your child actually eats. This matches what the school program is trying to achieve and lets you see if the program is working at home too.
  • Use the app to set reminders for healthy snacks at school and home. Create a simple reward system (not food-based) when your child eats vegetables or fruits at meals. Take photos of healthy meals to track progress and celebrate wins together.
  • Check in weekly on fruit and vegetable intake. Track physical activity by logging days when your child gets at least 60 minutes of exercise (recess, sports, active play). Compare month-to-month trends to see if the school program is having an impact. Share results with your child’s teacher to reinforce the program’s messages at home.

This research shows that school nutrition programs may help students eat more fruits and vegetables, but individual results vary. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace advice from your child’s doctor or school health professionals. If you have concerns about your child’s nutrition or physical activity, consult with a healthcare provider. School programs work best when combined with healthy habits at home and family support.